Flash forward to Monday night, one day after the Blue Jackets played their last preseason game, and preseason injuries had all but done away with any chance of moving a roster winger for that puck-mover. Howson and Hitchcock obviously didn’t feel comfortable one of their younger, more inexperienced defensemen filling in the 7th defenseman hole, but Martin Skoula wasn’t exactly going to give the team much of a boost either. So Scott Howson made his deal and acquired Anton Stralman from the Calgary Flames of a third round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

It’s been a hectic summer for the 6’1” 200 lb Swede. The Blue Jackets are his third team in less then three months. The Toronto Maple Leafs dealt Stralman, along with Colin Stewart to Calgary for Wayne Primeau and a second round pick in 2011 during the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on July 27th. However, a couple days later the Flames further bolstered their blue line with the acquisition of Jay Bouwmeester. With the likes of Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr, Cory Sarich already entrenched in the top four, and other youngsters like Mark Giordano and Adam Pardy fighting for the final two spots, there just wasn’t much room for Stralman. Howson saw an opportunity and he went to strike the deal.

Selected by the Maple Leafs in the seventh round, 216 overall, of the 2005 Entry Draft, Stralman has all the intangibles to be a solid defenseman in this league. He’s got good size and a monster RIGHT-HANDED shot. In 38 games with the Leafs last year he registered 1-12-13 along with 43 shots on goal. The 23-year-old still needs to become more polished in his own defensive zone, but has managed to make an overall good impression in his 88 career games, all coming with the Leafs. He also is in the final year of his entry-level contract, which gives the club a lot of flexibility as he will only be a restrict free agent this summer.

This move was a low risk, high reward for Howson. He lost his biggest trading pieces early in camp but still managed to come away with an offensive defenseman. Many have pegged Stralman “late bloomer” with lots of untapped potential. Stralman will push hard for power play minutes and likely find himself in a few games early on in the season to see what he can do. The Jackets need a right-handed shot from the point and Mike Commodore does not fit that mold. If Stralman can tap into his offensive potential, it will be very hard for Coach Hitchcock to keep him out of the lineup.

bartftc@gmail.com
Twitter: BartFTC

Now that we are clear on that, I, being a writer on the Blue Jackets and also getting credentials from the team, I feel that it is my duty from time to time to help the Blue Jackets out with some information and education that due to the relationship with their customers they are not always able to deliver in a clear fashion.

So here it goes! The player selected on Friday in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft will not play for the Columbus Blue Jackets next year! There, I said it.

Oh, so some of you think you are pretty smart and already knew this! Then why do I see over and over that the Blue Jackets biggest need is to pick a power play specialist to cure the team’s 30th ranked power play? If the CBJ select a defenseman in the first round, it will be at least 2 years before he will be a contributing factor for the big club. Anybody want to wait that long on the team’s power play?

That is another reason that the rumor of Kris Russell for Alex Auld is completely ridiculous! How bad would the Blue Jackets want their already pathetic power play to get? When you have Mike Commodore on the power play, that should let you know how thin you are when it comes to having a blue line offensive presence.

Am I completely against the Blue Jackets taking a defenseman with offensive skills? Heavens no, but this Service Announcement is to let you know that it won’t cure the ills of the present on the big club.

What my preference and based off of what Scott Howson has said, the Jackets want a center. They have Derick Brassard and Antoine Vermette for the next year. Nikita Filatov is a great prospect and he was drafted as a center but everyone has seen that he is best suited as a winger where he can be less restricted on defensive duties and let his offensive skill shine. The Union Blue don’t even have a warm body in Syracuse to bring up or is just seasoning. The top rated center in the organization, based off of Hockey Futures, is Sean Collins who just finished his freshman year at Cornell! Then there is no one and I mean no one. Kirill Starkov who was another has bolted for the KHL and thus the cupboard is bare.

What I am trying to educate Blue Jacket fans are, when it comes to the draft, don’t look at the Blue Jackets; instead look at Syracuse to find where the needs are for the organization.

The Blue Jackets still have some hope for Andrei Plekhanov who has offensive skill and also possesses a right handed shot that the Blue Jackets are in short supply of on the power play. Also,Cody Goloubef just finished his sophomore year at Wisconsin. Will the Jackets tap him on the shoulder and suggest that he come play for pay? Goloubef is the Jackets top defensive prospect and is offensive also and he too has a right handed shot. As you can see, the cupboard is not bare when it comes to defense. Could it use more prospects, what team couldn’t?

Columbus NHLTweetup Specifics

I am reallly getting fired up for the NHL Draft and the Columbus NHLTweetup. Based off of the Twitter traffic and other things, I can tell you guys and gals are too! I also know that you have some questions about the NHLTweetup and now I hope to clear some of them up.

1. How do I get to the Columbus NHLTweetup – Come to Nationwide Arena like the normal draft party that is being put on by the Blue Jackets. Then look for tables that will have reserved signs on them. I am going to try to get more specifics on where the tables are exactly and let you know on that as soon as I know. I don’t think it will be hard.

2. Will there be WiFi at the NHLTweetup – Come on! Do you think I would let you guys tweet during the draft? Thanks again to the Blue Jackets staff, we will have Wifi. I even have the user name and passwords already!

Username: DraftParty
Password: nhldraft

3. What time does it start? – 5pm on Friday is when the NHLTweetup will start. The NHL Draft won’t start until 7pm. That’s why if you can’t or don’t want to get there right at 5pm to get a good seat, getting your seat reserved for the NHLTweetup is the only way to go.

4. What will be going on during the party? – The best part is that there will be a collection of knowledgeable and passionate Blue Jacket fans all sitting together to talk, debate and brag a little when they guess a pick right. I will also have some contests that I will give out some prizes that I got from the great people at Crimson Cup and 97.1 The Fan. Also, people will be invited to watch live television coverage of the NHL Draft on VERSUS while George Matthews and Bill Davidge, alongside Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan’s Milan Jordan, will anchor the radio broadcast in addition, Jeff Rimer will contribute analysis and interviews direct from Montreal. The Festivities are headlined by player appearances by 2009 Calder Trophy winner Steve Mason, R.J. Umberger (who was also selected in the 16 spot in the first round) and Jared Boll, who will be on hand to sign autographs and participate in the select-a-seat Open House where fans may learn about opportunities regarding full and partial season ticket plans for the 2009-2010 season. A wide range of activities offered during the party include the following: tours of the Blue Jackets and visiting NHL locker rooms, photo opportunities in the penalty boxes, and alongside the cannon and Zambonis, sstreet hockey for kids, merchandise and game-used equipment sale, silent auction of sports memorabilia benefiting the Blue Jackets Foundation and draft party food and beverage specials.

5. Where can I reserve my seat? – go to the NHLTweetup website at NHLTweetup.com and you can make your reservation if you have a Twitter account. If you don’t have a twitter account and don’t want to create one, just email me at JacketsBuzz@yahoo.com and I will get you signed up. Spots are limited and are running out quickly, so don’t wait.

See everyone at the Draft! If you are there but don’t sign up for the NHLTweetup, don’t be shy and come by and say “Hi!” Would love to meet you.

Fire The Cannon!

Eric Smith
JacketsBuzz@Yahoo.com

On May 29, 1988 the possible “second coming” of Martin Brodeur was well on its way to happening. That was the day Steve Mason came into the world and the start of his “destiny”. Mason, now a 6’4″, 212 pound gift from the Hockey Gods, grew up in Oakville, Ontario (81 miles southwest of Toronto) wit parents Del and Donna, and sister Melanie.

With where Mason grew up most would think he would have been a devout Leafs fan or maybe even a Canadiens fan; but wasn’t the case. He followed goaltending. This in turn led him to follow the New Jersey Devils and more importantly, Martin Broduer. In homage of his favorite goaltender (and team), growing up his room was done Devils style.

“Growing up my favorite team was the Devils just because of Broduer…I had a Broduer jersey and the colors in my room were red and white.”

What Mason has taken from idolizing/watching Broduer is his puck-handling.

At the age of 10, Mason bought his first set of goalie pads with money he had saved from his paper route. And the rest is history.

“There is no escalator to success–only steps.” Former Oilers GM Glen Sather

On track to starting his pro career his first step in the ladder was with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 2005-2006 season. Unlike most young players in the OHL, or any junior hockey league, Mason only played 12 games before being drafted 69th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. At the start of the 2007-2008 season, he was on the Jackets roster but was sent back to London after being a healthy scratch for the first two games. Mason first competed for Team Canada at the Under-20 level (8 games) in the 2007 Super Series against Russia. The following year he helped lead Team Canada to the gold medal at the IIHF Would Junior Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic with a 3-2 OT win over Team Sweden. Following that game he was named Player of the Game, Tournament MVP and Top Goaltender in the tournament. During the midst of all this, back in Canada, he was traded from the Knights to the Kitchener Rangers on January 4, 2008.

“I knew I was in trouble when I heard snap, crackle and pop, and I wasn’t having a bowl of cereal.” Former Maple Leaf Nick Kypreos

Once back in Canada he was briefly recalled to Columbus on emergency basis but didn’t get any playing time and was sent back down to Kitchener. Nearing the end of the regular season he suffered a knee injury but played through it for the remainder of the regular season and the first round of playoff play versus the Plymouth Whalers. After defeating the Whalers, Mason was pulled from the line-up and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on April 18th; missing the rest of the playoffs and the 2008 Memorial Cup. The Rangers were able to win without him but lost in the final game 4-1 at the hands of the Spokane Chiefs.

“I play a position where you make mistakes.  The only people who don’t make them at a hockey game are the ones watching.” Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy

At the start of the 2008-2009 season, he underwent another knee surgery and missed the first month of play with Columbus’ AHL affiliate the Syracuse Crunch. Two months later, on November 4, 2008, he got the call from the Jackets once again to replace injured starter Pascal Leclaire. November 5, 2008 was the start of the “Mason Era” in Columbus with him making his NHL debut and first NHL win over the Edmonton Oilers in a 5-4 victory. Just 17 days later he recorded his first, of what came to be 10 at season’s end, shut out over the Atlanta Thrashers with a 2-0 final. With a 5-2-1 record, 3 straight wins and 2 shutouts already to his credit, Mason earned November Rookie of the Month honors. December brought more honors to Mason; a 7-5-0 record, 1.41 GAA, .950 save percentage and a three game goal-less streak against the Flyers, Kings and Ducks – all earned him December Rookie of the Month honors.

“You’re really playing against yourself.  You have to learn what you can control and what you can’t, and not let what you can’t control affect your confidence.” Former Rangers goalie Mike Richter

All-Star roster buzz started to buzz louder with each passing day for Mason and even the possibility to start the All-Star game; by some fans. He didn’t make that cut. He did however make the cut for the Young Stars game. Though honored, Mason opted out of the game and took the All-Star break to rest; because in the previous weeks he did not play like himself, most thought it was just fatigue from playing almost every night. It was later revealed by Jackets GM Scott Howson, that Mason had been suffering from Mono for three to four weeks. This, subsequently, led him to be put on IR on February 8th but returned five days later in a 3-2 victory over Detroit on February 13th.

“The playoffs separate the men from the boys, and we found out we have a lot of boys in our dressing room.” Former Rangers GM Neil Smith

Mason was a big part of the reason the Jackets made their first playoff run in franchise history. A lot of fans say he’s the only reason why the Jackets finally made the playoffs. They finished 7th in the West and had to face 2nd seeded Detroit in Round One. Unfortunately, the Jackets were swept out in Round One but gave the fans something to be proud of in the almost come back in Game 4 at Nationwide Arena. But now Mason, along with the rest of the young Jackets has gotten their first taste of the NHL Playoffs. And with Mason between the pipes, it won’t be their last!

Career Awards:

- OHL Goaltender of the Year (2007)

- Player of the Game in semi-final vs USA and Gold Medal game vs Sweden in World

Junior Championship (2008)

- OHL Record for Regular Season Wins with 45 (2006-2007) – but broken by Andrew Engelage of the Windsor Spitfires with 46 (2008-2009)

- CHL Record Assisits by a Goaltender with 8 (2007)

- NHL Rookie of the Month; November (2008), December (2008)

- Sportng News Rookie of the Year (2009)

- Calder Memroial Trophy (2009)

- NHL Second All-Star Team (2009)

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